Rules of Acquisition

for|the eponymous episode of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"|Rules of Acquisition (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)The Rules of Acquisition, in the fictional Star Trek universe, is a set of guidelines intended to ensure the profitability of businesses owned by the ultra-capitalist Ferengi. The first rule was made by Gint, the first Grand Nagus of the Ferengi Alliance. The title of "Rules of Acquisition" was chosen as a clever marketing ploy (since the rules are merely guidelines) and Gint numbered his first rule as #162, in order to create a demand for the other 161 Rules that had yet to be written. The Rules are said to be divinely inspired and sacred thus the closest thing to a religion for Ferengi society. [cite web |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/EC21Ak05.html |publisher=Asia Times |title=Meanwhile, the business of war continues |accessdate=2008-01-11 |last=Isenberg|first=David ] cite book
title= Religions of Star Trek
first= Ross Shepard
last= Kraemer
coauthors= Ross Kraemer, William Cassidy, Susan L. Schwartz
url =http://books.google.com/books?id=Ag3SFdyIgSsC
pages=3, 180
date= 2003
publisher=Westview Press
isbn= 0813341159, 9780813341156 ] The "profit-obsessed" Ferengi believe that once their dead bodies have been cremated -- and remains sold to the highest bidder -- their souls go to a "Divine Treasury" where they are held accountable for their adherence to the rules. The Rules of Acquisition take the form of short aphorisms such as the first rule "Once you have their money, you never give it back,"cite episode| episodelink=The Nagus (DS9 episode)|title=The Nagus| series=] cite episode | episodelink=Heart of Stone (DS9 episode)| title=Heart of Stone| series=] the twenty-first rule "Never place friendship above profit,"cite episode | episodelink=Rules of Acquisition (DS9 episode)| title=Rules of Acquisition| series=] the thirty-fourth rule "War is good for business,"cite episode | episodelink=Destiny (DS9 episode)| title=Destiny| series=] cite episode| episodelink=The Siege of AR-558 (DS9 episode)|title=The Siege of AR-558| series=] followed by the thirty-fifth rule "Peace is good for business."cite episode| episodelink=The Perfect Mate (TNG episode)|title=The Perfect Mate| series=]

Although it has been stated within Star Trek that there are 285 rules not all of them have been stated in canon. Most of the rules were written by Ira Steven Behr and he published many of them in a book "The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition" (ISBN 0-671-52936-6), the cover of which credits authorship as being "By Quark as told to Ira Steven Behr." Additional rules were published in "Legends of the Ferengi" (ISBN 0-671-00728-9), by Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe. Behr and Wolfe were both writers for "" with Behr being the Executive Producer of the series.cite book
title= Adventures in Time and Space
first= Mary P.
last= Taylor
url =http://books.google.com/books?id=CNPFsqC7EFgC
pages=483
date= 2002
publisher=Simon and Schuster
isbn= 0743455932, 9780743455930 ]

tages of Acquisition

In addition to the Rules, Ferengi recognize five Stages of Acquisition:
# Infatuation — "I want it."
# Justification — "I "must" have it!"
# Appropriation — "IT'S MINE AT LAST!"
# Obsession — "Precious!"
# Resale — "Make me an offer."

External links

References